GOP House Members to Urge White House to Enact Grant Transparency Rule to Block Woke Activism Funding

Citing the “network” of liberal activists funded by President Joe Biden’s administration, 34 Republican lawmakers are urging the Office of Management and Budget to finalize a proposed rule they say would bring greater transparency to the federal grant-making process and give taxpayers more insight into how government funds are spent.

The lawmakers—including Reps. August Pfluger of Texas, Michael Cloud of Texas, Byron Donalds of Florida, and Sen. Jim Banks of Indiana—penned the letter last week as part of a larger effort to protect taxpayer dollars from mismanagement or fraud, waste, and abuse.

“Every dollar the federal government awards in grants should serve the American people and uphold the Constitution. That has not been happening,” Cloud told the Daily Signal. “Federal grants have been funding discrimination, gender ideology, and open border advocacy. These are not organizations serving the American people.”

“They are organizations that have used taxpayer dollars to violate federal law. This rule puts a stop to that. We are glad Director [Russell] Vought is moving forward on this,” Cloud added.

In the letter, the conservative coalition argued that “it is vital that recipients of government assistance comply with federal law” because “each year, the federal government distributes trillions of dollars in grants and financial assistance.”

The lawmakers argued that Congress has a responsibility to ensure federal funding does not support activities that conflict with laws passed by Congress or constitutional provisions ratified by the states.

“We have an interest in stopping these funds from advancing peripheral and experimental ideologies that seek to destabilize the American project and harm the American people,” the letter continues. “For years, taxpayer dollars have supported unlawful activities.”

The coalition also contended that increased transparency is especially important given what members described as inconsistent enforcement of federal law across presidential administrations.

The letter specifically raises concerns about federal funding for organizations involved in immigration-related services. The lawmakers cited what they described as a “network of over 200 non-governmental organizations” that allegedly helped facilitate the entry of illegal immigrants and received funding during the Biden administration.

According to the letter, some organizations used taxpayer funds to provide assistance such as housing, cash support, and transportation. The lawmakers further alleged that some groups encouraged fraudulent asylum claims or engaged in anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement activism.

“OMB has clear legal authority to deny federal funding in support of these projects,” the letter states.

The proposal has received support from conservative advocacy groups.

Daniel West, Heritage Action’s director of government relations, said the rule could increase accountability in the federal grants system and help ensure taxpayer dollars are spent in accordance with federal law.

“OMB’s proposed rule restructures our nation’s inefficient grants system and puts power back in the hands of American taxpayers,” West told The Daily Signal. “Under this proposed rule, there will finally be accountability and an end to taxpayer dollars supporting these destructive practices.”

West praised Banks, Cloud, and the other lawmakers who signed the letter, saying they are fulfilling their constitutional duty to oversee federal spending.

“Congress has expressed no intent to fund discrimination, to sponsor the mutilation of children and elimination of women’s sports, or to support groups that believe the United States should not have a border,” the letter concludes.